A THAMESMEAD shopper has spoken of his shock after finding bottles of bleach lined up alongside wine and cider in a popular supermarket.

Brian Barnett was shopping at Lidl in Eynsham Drive when he made the discovery, which he brands "irresponsible."

The 55-year-old worries a shopper with poor eyesight or a child shopping with their parents could mistake the bottle for a drink - and the outcome could be deadly.

He said: "If it was just a few steps away from the cleaning products then maybe that would be fine but it was right at the other end of the store.

"It is the shop’s responsibility to not put stuff which is potentially life-threatening in the wrong place.

“This is something that could or may never happen but we should pre-empt it.

“It is irresponsible.”

Cleaning contractor Mr Barnett explained how he thinks young children shopping with their parents could identify the bleach as a drink because of where it is placed.

The Wolvercote Road resident said: “If a child was in the store with their parents, they might see that and think it is a drink.

“Mum might then pick up a bottle of wine and when they get home and see the same container in the cupboard, quite often people don’t look for the safety tops.

"The kid could well assume it is a drink.

"It is proven they link things, for example, kids will recognise the McDonalds symbol.

"If they see their parents picking up things and next to it they have got bleach."

A Lidl spokeswoman said: "We appreciate the concern raised in relation to the placement of the bottles of bleach and we will be speaking with the store to reiterate the recommendation that these items are positioned away from food and drink items.

"Although we believe the bottles of bleach can be distinguished by touch from other bottles, due to certain features such as the child safety cap, we do recognise that customers with limited sight would appreciate a clearer distinction and we would like to thank this customer for bringing this to our attention."